The birds are chirping, the grass is getting greener, and the sun is finally shining. Ladies and gentlemen, summer is upon us.
There was a time in my life when I was making weekly trips to Barnes & Noble to satiate my addiction to reading. Now, between working full time, planning a wedding, and launching this website you’re reading now, I’m lucky to find time to read the instructions on the back of a pasta box.
Yet, despite these hurdles, I’m hopeful that this summer will be different, and I’ve made it my mission to finish reading at least three to five books before Labor Day Weekend arrives. After all, it’s important to set tangible goals in life.
Kicking off the start of the summer season, I thought I’d share the top five titles in my current to-be-read list that I’m looking to enjoy while sitting on the beach with a drink in hand.
Disclaimer: I’m aware that the list you’re about to view is about as basic as it gets. But that’s what summer is for.
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Unlike some of the other titles on this list, I would be lying if I said that I was not introduced to this series through the Amazon Prime show first.
There was a time when I was intimately aware of what shows or movies were coming out because I had already read the book at least twice. Now, those days are gone, and I am left with having to determine whether to give a book a chance based on its adaptation. As all book lovers know, the adaptation is simply never as good.
And sometimes, as is the case with Allegiant (2016), some adaptations absolutely ruin it for everyone.
Yet, The Summer I Turned Pretty series, from my view, lends itself well to the use of current music to elicit emotion and has created a setting that exudes summertime. Naturally, of course, this title had to be on my summer reading list.
All that in mind, I’ve already been informed by friends and fans that the two mediums do have substantial differences. While a few spoilers have been ruined for me due to the show’s current seasons (and a spoiler I was unfortunately told for the upcoming third season, premiering July 16, 2025), I’m eager to see for myself exactly how different the two versions are and whether Amazon did this series justice. Whether I can read the entire trilogy before the new series arrives is an entirely different matter.
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
I grew up in the early 2010s when dystopian young adult novels ruled the world. Suffice it to say, it wasn’t just a phase for me and millions of others.
Back in the day (if I can be so bold as to call it that), this genre absolutely took over, and I swallowed it up. Divergent by Veronica Roth, Legend by Marie Lu, and The Maze Runner by James Dashner, to name a few favorites. I read these books front-to-back, back-to-front, and front-to-back again.
Yet, The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins was, candidly, on a whole different level. It was sharper, more thoughtful, and more intellectually stimulating than its counterparts. That isn’t to say the other books don’t have their merit, but there is a reason why Collins continues to dominate both book sales and the box office with the same piece of intellectual property.
In fact, the ceiling for this fictitious world is so high, this book was announced in conjunction with the announcement of its movie release. As far as I’m aware, that’s nearly unheard of.
YA or not, I can only imagine the ways Collins continues to up the ante.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
In all honesty, Throne of Glass is a carry-over from my winter break reading list.
To be clear, I’ve already begun diving into Throne of Glass, and I’m absolutely loving it. Not being able to finish my read-through has less to do with how much I’ve been enjoying it and all to do with the limited constraints of free time. Nonetheless, it is my mission to have it completed before I dive into the other titles on this list.
It is a fantasy novel, but one that is reminiscent of series like The Hunger Games for an adult audience. It has many of the same characteristics of other fantasy novels, such as not being able to confidently pronounce any of the character names or places, but it has the narration style of something much more approachable.
It is the first novel of a series of eight books with a prequel. While it’s an ambitious list, I’m excited to at least get the first one under my belt this season.
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
This book has been sitting on my shelf since last summer. Again, it isn’t that I haven’t been excited to read it, but I purchased it on a whim when my TBR list was already a mile high. But this summer, I’m determined to change that.
Similarly to The Summer I Turned Pretty, this book simply seems to exude summertime vibes. Even just the cover alone makes me think of being in a bathing suit and sipping on a frozen piña colada. And while it will be my first Emily Henry title, I’ve seen her name on the New York Times’ bestseller list enough to feel pretty confident about this pick.
Listed as a contemporary romance title, the premise seems straightforward: best friends with polar opposite personalities have an ill-fated trip that takes them apart until they decide to give it another try.
Reading the synopsis, Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me” immediately began playing in my head.
While I have my preemptive guesses as to what tore them apart, I’ll keep those predictions to myself for now.
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Again, I hate to admit this, but this title is another pick inspired by Amazon Prime’s impressive lineup of shows. Not to mention, I’m a huge fan of Fleetwood Mac, which the book is loosely based on. If you’re familiar with the band, you already have an idea of the book’s plot.
To give you a quick glimpse, the book tells of the dramatic rise and fall of 1970s hit rock band, Daisy Jones & The Six. It has romance, drama, suspense, and a fair amount of partying.
Having already watched the show, I’m most excited for how the book brings the musical aspect of the story to life. As someone of no musical talents myself, I’m always impressed at the way authors incorporate music into their books. However, given my lack of rhythm, it’s typically something I would glance over. Hopefully, that won’t be the case with this one. Oh, and the show also features a familiar face in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire actor Sam Claflin. See, we’ve come full circle!
Summer is a time for relaxation, contemplation, and procrastination. But I’ve pushed off my TBR list for too long, and now it’s time to catch up on the titles most readers seem to already know are worth the read.
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